Rail-clamp



F. WISNIEWSKI.

RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 22. 1919.

' Patented Jun 1, 1920.

E ii 5- E IN VEN TOR. fl/x Msm'ewsk/ A TTORNE Y.

UNITED RAIL-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Application filed October 22 1919. Serial No. 332,468.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX Wrsmnwsm, a citizen of Poland, residing atSouth Amboy, county of Middlesex, and State of New J ersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rail clamps, particularlyclamps operated by the actuation of a clamping wedge. It is theprincipal object of the invention to provide a rail clamp assuring aready and effective operation as well as presenting a simple improvedconstruction. 7

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafterspecifically described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the rail clamp, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of a rail with the clamp constructedaccording to the present invention in end view.

The rail 10 is clamped onto a tie 11 by two clamp bars 12, 12 engagingthe upper faces of the foot flanges of the rail upon opposite sides ofthe web.

At both sides of the rail 10 blocks 13, 13 are secured to the tie 11 bymeans of screw bolts 14, 14 or the like. The blocks 13, 13 are providedwith recesses 15, 15 and the upper parts are cut away as at 16, 16;these cut away parts being directed at both sides of the rail inopposite directions as clearly shown in the drawing. Wedges 17, 17 aremovably arranged within the recesses 15, 15 so that the wider ends ofsaid wedges will point in opposite directions on both sides of the rail.These wedges press the clamp bars 12 upon the rail flange. A cross bar18 is slidably arranged near the smaller end of each wedge and adaptedto slide along the cut away portions 16, 16 and is normally pressedoutwardly by means of coiled springs 19, 19 wound around pins 20, 20resting with their inner ends against the blocks 13, 13. The outwardmovement of the bars 18, 18 under the action of the springs 19, 19 islimited by a stop pin 21 in the smaller ends of the wedges'upon theoutside of the bars 18, 18 against which the outer edges of sald barsbear.

The larger ends of the wedges are wider than the recess, and it is clearthat under the action of the springs 19, 19 the wedges will be drawninto the recesses 15, 15 as far as their larger ends will permit, thusinsuring a positive clamping action of the clamp bars upon the rails.

If it is desired to loosen the rail clamp, the bars 18, 18 are pressedback against the tension of the springs 19, 19, the retaining pins 21are removed and the wedges'can then be removed from the recesses 15, 15allowing a ready removal of the clamp bars 12.

What I claim is: i

1. A rail clamp of the character described comprising in combinatiouwitha rail, cutaway blocks adapted to be secured to the ties at both sidesof said rail, clamp rods in said blocks adapted to press upon the footflanges of a rail, means in said blocks for clamping said rods againstthe foot flanges of said rail, means for normally locking said clampingmeans in its operative position, and means for releasing said lockingmeans.

2. A rail clamp of the character described, comprising in combinationwith a rail and its foot flange, cut-away and recessed blocks adapted tobe secured to the ties at both sides of said rail with the cut-awayportions pointing in opposite directions, clamp rods in said blocksadapted to press upon the foot flanges of said rail, wedges in therecesses of said blocks, stop pins in the smaller ends of said wedgesand a spring controlled yoke for normally drawing said wedges into saidrecesses as far as their widerparts permit.

3. In a rail clamp of the character described, recessed cut-away blocksadapted to be secured to a tie at both sides of a rail, clamp rods insaid blocks, wedges in the recesses of said blocks pressing on saidclamp rods and having their wider ends pointing in opposite directionson both sides of a rail, a spring controlled yoke upon the cut-awayportion of said blocks, and stop pins in the smaller ends of said wedgesagainst which the movable front bars of said yoke normally rest.

a. In a rail clamp of the character described, recessed cut-away blocksat both sides of a rail adapted to be secured to the tie, clamp rods insaid blocks, wedges in the recesses of said blocks pointing with theirsmaller ends in opposite directions at both sides of a rail and pressingsaid clamp rods against the rail foot, pins on the cut-away portions ofsaid blocks, spiral springs Wound about said pins and movable operatingrods on said pins normally resting with their outer 5 edges against stoppins in said Wedges for looking said clamp rods against the rail foot,

the larger portions of said Wedges engaging v the recesses in saidblocks, said operating rod adapted to be pressed inwardly against thetension springs for. releasing said Wedges 10 and clamping rods.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

FELIX WISNIEWSKI.

